Bevan slams Khan comments

English players' chief Richard Bevan has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board for their harsh stance on umpire Darrell Hair.

Pakistan have requested the International Cricket Council do not appoint the Australian to officiate in any more of their matches following the ball-tampering row in the fourth Test against England.

Bevan, group chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, told BBC Radio Five Live: "The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket, who is also a member of the ICC, is making these press conferences, and some of the comments are inflammatory about one of their own employees, Darrell Hair. Most recognise the game needs to move on."

Pakistan have had a number of run-ins with Hair and had been unhappy with his standing in two Tests in the England series.

Hair has been painted as the villain of the piece by Pakistan over the events that led to the forfeiture of the match at The Oval on Sunday, with their board chairman Shahriyar Khan criticising the umpire.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq faces charges of bringing the game into disrepute and of changing the condition of the ball and could face a ban.

Inzamam is responsible for the actions of the team, whose refusal to return to the field after the tea interval in protest at the umpires' decision to change the ball on suspicion of tampering led to the forfeiture.

There are fears that the forthcoming five-match one-day series may not take place if Inzamam is banned but Bevan hopes it will go ahead as scheduled.

He added: "I very much hope so. Inzamam is a proud cricketer and whatever the outcome I feel will ensure the players do stay. Relations between the players have been excellent."